Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Luke 23:53

σινδόνι. A piece of fine white linen. Comp. Mark 14:51. Two other words, ὀθονία (John 19:40) and σουδάριον (John 20:7), are used of the various cerements of Jesus. That Joseph bought this σινδών, apparently on this day (Mark 15:46), is one of the many incidental signs furnished even by the Synoptists that the true Passover did not begin till the evening of the Friday on which our Lord was crucified. On the part taken by Nicodemus in the Entombment, and the spices which he brought, see John 19:39-40. Both Joseph and Nicodemus in acting thus not only shewed great courage, but also great self-sacrifice; for the touching of a corpse made them ceremonially unclean, and thus prevented them from any share in the Paschal Feast.

ἐν μνήματι λαξευτῷ. λαξευτὸς is an Alexandrian word found also in LXX[412] Deuteronomy 4:49 (λᾶς, ξέω). This rock-hewn tomb (Matt., Mk., comp. Isaiah 22:16) was in a garden (comp. Jos. Antt. IX. 10, § 4; X. 3, § 2) adjoining the scene of the crucifixion, if not an actual part of it. John 19:41. “He made His grave with the rich,” Isaiah 53:9. The mouth of these rocky tombs was closed with a large stone, called by the Jews Gôlal, which could only be rolled there by the labour of several men (John 11:39).

[412] LXX. Septuagint.

οὗ οὐκ ἦν οὐδεὶς οὔπω κείμενος. This acervation of negatives is quite classical. Comp. οὐδενὶ οὐδαμῃ οὐδαμῶς οὐδεμίαν κοινωνίαν ἔχει. Plato, Parmen. 166 a. It is common to all languages. “Harp not on that, nor do not banish reason.” Meas. for Meas. See instances in my Brief Greek Syntax, § 28.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Luke 23:53

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